Jensen Motors to be relived during May show

Jensen Motors to be relived during May show

One of 320 produced, this Jensen Interceptor FF (1966-1971) came with all-wheel drive and ABS brakes, unusual for its time.Wiki Media

As we head into May, we are just a couple of weeks away from the annual All-British Field Meet, taking place this year on May 17 at VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver.

The British vehicles to be showcased this year include the wonderful machinery of Jensen Motors, Sunbeam Tiger and Velocette motorcycles.
Richard and Alan Jensen had an incredible passion and talent for body-building — of the car variety.

They were born in Birmingham, England and built their first car in 1928 based on a 1925 Austin Seven.
It caught the eye of the chief engineer of the Standard Motor Company, and Standard put the Jensen design into production and it was a huge success.

In 1930, the brothers joined forces with Joe Patrick and formed a business selling and servicing small cars and carrying out their own designs. This was short-lived due to a falling out with Patrick.

In 1932, the Jensens took their talents to the coach-building firm of W. J. Smith & Sons, where they remained for the next 35 years. William Smith died in 1936 and the Jensen brothers took control of the company, re-naming it Jensen Motors.

Commercial vehicle construction was the company’s bread and butter — car production began as a sideline passion.

Some of the more well-known bodies built by Jensen include the Austin A40 Sports, Austin Healey 100 and the Volvo p1800.

By the late ’50s, the Jensen Brothers had lost their controlling interest in their own company to the Norcros Group.

Getting on in years and in failing health, the decision to outsource the bodybuilding of the Italian designed Jensen Interceptor to Vignale was the last straw. The brothers walked away in 1966.

More than 50 per cent of the vehicles that Jensen produced were delivered to the U.S. Canada was a very small market, responsible for just two per cent of sales.

The company had numerous owners, all with huge plans. The last attempt failed and the company closed in 2002.

Of the 18,971 cars built during their history, 37 per cent are recorded as having survived.

A new company has emerged in England dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the Jensen brand. Visit jensenmotors.ltd.uk for more details.

Nigel Matthews is the director of sales and marketing for Hagerty Canada, LLC — Hagerty is the world’s largest specialist provider of collector car insurance and provides many resources that support the classic car lifestyle. Contact him at nmatthews@hagerty.com or visit hagerty.ca